Pangilinan eyes agriculture partnership with Israel

Businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan has met with visiting Israel businessmen composed mostly of water and agri-technology sectors as Israel and Philippines governments are in the process of reviewing an old agreement in time for the visit of Israel Agriculture Minister to the country next year.

This was announced by Donald Dee, honorary chairman and chief operating officer of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at a forum on Israel-Philippines: Exploring Opportunities in Water and Agro-Technology.

Dee did not divulge if Pangilinan, who owns a third of the sugar milling firm Roxas Holdings Inc. (34%) and a minority stake in Victorias Milling Corp., has interest in adopting new Israeli agro technology. Israel Embassy’s head of economic and trade mission Doron Hemo to the Philippines stressed this was the first time that Pangilinan has met with an Israeli business mission.

Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Effie Ben Matityao said the discussions are confidential, but noted of the Philippine agriculture potential to move up the value chain by getting in technology partners.

The 7-member business delegation also met with other conglomerates in the country other than MVP. Hemo also said the Israeli delegation is particularly interested in mobile hospital for the army and dairy farming.

The ambassador further said that Israel Agriculture Minister’s visit here in January next year is an opportunity to start a fresh relationship with the Philippines in the agriculture sector. He noted of a need to revisit a 30-year old agriculture agreement with the Philippines.

While the Philippines has already adopted new agri technology and farm solutions like in the sugar, banana, and pineapple sectors, there are some agricultural products that the Philippines does not need to import if it can only use new farming technologies to improve productivity.

Some big farms are highly automated but the small farms have limited use of technology. Productivity has also gone down with the agrarian reform program of the government.

Matityao said the gaps in agriculture can be narrowed down and this also requires government policy.